CRUD Form entity

A CRUD Form entity generates the user interface for the program. CRUD forms are used to Create, Read, Update, and Delete data from a database.

A CRUD form entity is represented as a 4fdm file which can be opened and edited in Form Designer.

When a CRUD form entity is implemented from the diagram, the 4fdm file is created as well as 4gl source files containing the program logic to access and manipulate the database tables contained in the form.

Any changes to the CRUD form entity properties in the BA diagram or in the 4fdm file are included in the subsequent re-generating of the program code.

The generated code can be customized.

Properties can be set to specify how the form should behave during the various states (DISPLAY, MODIFY, ADD, SEARCH).

If your form has a relation on the BA diagram to a Report Data entity, additional actions are generated for the Toolbar and Topmenu to launch the report. The Report Option properties are used to define which report actions should be generated.
Important: This feature is not supported on mobile platforms.
Table 1. Report Option Properties
Property Description
quickPrint Defines if print action is available.
quickPreview Defines if a preview action is available. When implemented, a Preview button is placed on the form. If the application is running in the Genero Desktop Client (GDC), the report is previewed in the Genero Report Viewer (GRV). If the application is running in the Genero Browser Client (GBC), the report is previewed in the Genero Report Viewer for HTML5 (GRV for HTML5)
quickPDF Defines if export to PDF action is available.
quickHTML Defines if export to HTML action is available.
quickXLS Defines if export to XLS action is available.
quickRTF Defines if export to RTF action is available.
canExport Defines if the PDF, HTML, XLS, and/or RTF print actions are available. If canExport is checked and quickPDF, quickHTML, quickXLS, or quickRTF are also checked, the action will be available.

Right-click the Form entity in the diagram to display a context menu of options.

Table 2. Context Menu Options
Menu Option Description
Implement CRUD Form Creates a new blank managed form definition file (4fdm) to design from scratch.
Implement CRUD Form from Database Provides a wizard to create a managed form definition file (4fdm), allowing you to pick the columns and general display of your form. This option is generally preferred. The form can be modified after it is created.
Open Opens the selected form in Form Designer.
Convert to Converts entity from one type to another.
Add Relation To Add a relation starting from the selected item.
Locate in Project Locates and highlights the selected item in the project.
Hide Hide the selected item.
Show All Items Show all hidden items in diagram (menu is active if items are hidden)
Filter Items... Select items to show in the diagram by filtering. Allows you to select items or search for items by name in the Filter View dialog.
Cut (Ctrl+X) Cut the selected item.
Copy (Ctrl+C) Copy the selected item.
Paste (Ctrl+V) Paste an item from the clipboard.
Rename (F2) Rename the selected item.
Delete (Del) Delete the selected item.
Select Relation Select a relation by selecting from the menu list. The options for selection are:
  • By relation name in the diagram
  • By relation type (form, report, phone, etc) to/from the selected item
  • All listed relations to/from the selected item
  • All relations in the diagram
Select item Select an entity by selecting from the menu list. There is an option to select all items in the diagram.